Howard ready to listen to free agent offers

Dwight Howard said he was going to sit down and listen to what other clubs had to say to sway him to leave the Lakers, and here come the big, bold sales pitches.

The Houston Rockets, believed to be the top contenders to land Howard, will get the first shot: a dinner in Los Angeles right when NBA free agency opens at 9 p.m. Sunday.

Included in the Rockets' contingent to visit Howard will be past Rockets superstars Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, plus current players James Harden and Chandler Parsons, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks – plus the Golden State Warriors, who would need the Lakers to assist them via sign-and-trade to acquire Howard – are also expected to court Howard. The Lakers' understanding is that they will be the final suitor to meet with Howard, probably Tuesday.

The Lakers waived little-used guard Chris Duhon on Saturday, as expected. By cutting him now, the Lakers have to pay only $1.5 million instead of Duhon's full $3.75 million salary for the 2013-14 season.